Private William Long
Melvin Bledsoe
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - When Abdulhakim Muhammad opened fire at a Little Rock Army recruiting center, he killed one soldier and wounded another. Yet out of that tragedy, two fathers have found common ground.
"This is an American nightmare," said Dr. Charles Jacobs with Americans for Peace and Tolerance and contributor to the documentary.
June 1st 2009, Privates William Long and Quinton Ezeagwula stand outside an army recruiting center in Little Rock. Abdulhakim Muhammad drives by and opens fire, severely wounding Ezeagwula, killing Private Long.
Muhammad later confess he did it in retaliation of U.S. military action in the Middle East.
"There have been 51 instances of these things and every single one of the guys that have been caught stand back on their religion as a motivation and justification for what they are doing," said Daris Long, father of Private William Long.
Memphis Businessman Melvin Bledsoe, father of Abdulhakim Muhammad, said he could not support the actions of his son.
"The FBI tracked my son from 2007 to 2009," said Bledsoe.
Bledsoe said the tragedy could have been prevented.
"They interviewed him in Yemen. He did not come back to the United States on his own volition. He was deported on the request of the United States government back here," said Long.
The film chronicles both men's journeys in the wake of the shooting.
The film chronicles both men's journeys in the wake of the shooting.
"You have this black fellow, church-going family, baptist family, wonderful family. The parents send him off to Tennessee State University to get an education to better himself," said Dr. Jacobs.
Bledsoe says his son was brainwashed by radical Muslims while a student at Tennessee State University.
Long said Bledsoe sat behind him in Washington during his testimony before congress while he asked Congress grant his son a Purple Heart. Long said while tragedy brought the two men together, he applauds the way Bledsoe has handled the ordeal.
"I didn't volunteer to become a gold star father; nobody does, but not to identify what happened would dishonor my son," said Long.